This delightful dorei (clay bell) features the form of a white ox, a symbolic figure in Japanese folklore often associated with perseverance, strength, and agricultural prosperity. Made for Fukashima Jinja (深島神社), a coastal Shinto shrine located on the remote island of Fukashima in Saiki City, Ōita Prefecture, this bell serves both as a protective charm and a keepsake of the shrine’s tranquil, spiritual atmosphere.
The ox’s body is adorned with a traditional patterned cloth motif, tied with a vibrant red-and-white braided cord, evoking festive Shinto imagery. Its gentle expression and small golden horn add to its charm. On the back and underbelly, a seal mark signifies the shrine’s authenticity. Dorei like this are traditionally used as omamori (protective talismans) or as offerings to wish for good fortune, protection from calamities, or success in endeavors, particularly during the New Year or for those born in the Year of the Ox.
